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 Ten confirmed dead in stampede during food sharing in ABuja Ten persons have been confirmed de@d in a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, on Saturday, 21st December 2024, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly persons.   The tragic event, which happened at about 6:30 am, claimed the lives of ten (10) individuals, including four (4) children, and left eight (8) others with varying degrees of injuries. Four (4) of the injured have been treated and discharged, while the remaining victims are receiving medical care.   The FCT Police Command in a statement released by its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident and sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. More photos below. 

 Three Nigerians made the Forbes List of the most powerful, impactful and wealthiest Black Americans in 2024.  The Nigerians on the list are Wemimo Abbey, Tope Awotona and Adebayo Ogunlesi, all based in the United States.  Abbey, 32, is the Cofounder and Co-CEO, Esusu, a New York fintech startup that helps renters build their credit histories and scores by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus.  According to Forbes, more than 20,000 properties currently offer Esusu’s service and some 1.8 million Americans have used Esusu to record a rent payment.  In early 2022, Esusu raised $130 million in funding at a $1 billion valuation. Before founding Esusu, Abbey, who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, worked as a mergers and acquisitions consultant at PWC and cofounded a non-profit and a data analytics startup.  Report has it that his Nigerian mother sold her wedding ring to fund his travel and education in the US.  Awotona, 43, is the Founder and CEO, Calendly, a ...

 Wrestling Legend, Rey Misterio Sr. d!es at 66 Mexican Wrestling legend, Rey Misterio Sr. has d!ed at age 66. The death of Mysterio Sr., whose real name is Miguel Ángel López Días, was announced by his son, El Hijo de Rey Misterio (Miguel Aarón López Hernández) on Facebook on Friday, December 20. “Friends and family, I regret to inform you that my Father, Miguel Ángel López Días, Rey Misterio Sr., Passed away this morning...I will keep you informed. Thank you,” read the statement, originally posted in Spanish. A cause of death was not announced. Mexican wrestling company Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide also issued a statement on social media to confirm the news. “We mourn the sensitive passing of Miguel Ángel López Días, known as Rey Misterio Sr. We send our deepest condolences to your loved ones and lift our prayers to heaven for your eternal rest,” the statement, originally posted in Spanish, read. Mysterio Sr. is the uncle of current WWE superstar Rey Misterio. Misterio’s son, fellow ...

 Press Release   Minister of Information Condoles VON, IPI Over Death of Rafatu Salami   The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has described the death of Hajiya Rafatu Salami, the Director of Digital Media of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Treasurer of the International Press Institute, Nigeria, as a great loss to the media industry.   “Hajiya Rafatu, a seasoned and consummate journalist, and  former Secretary of the Abuja Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) will be remembered for a meritorious journalism career and has mentored several young others, particularly at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) where she rose to become the cornerstone of the organisation’s digital operations, in her remarkable 23 year career in the organization,” said Idris.   Her death, Idris added, “leaves a huge gap within the VON family and at the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), where she served diligently in the consolidation of...

 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS: WAPA SENSITISE SGBV SURVIVORS  Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) recently organised a Sensitization Programme On Mental Health Awareness For Gender-Based Violence Survivors at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ikeja.  In her address at the one-day event, the Honourable Commissioner for WAPA, Mrs. Bolaji Cecilia Dada said the programme was designed to focus on mental health awareness, particularly among survivors of gender-based violence The Commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting survivors and addressing the psychological impacts of such violence. The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oluyemi Kalesanwo expressed gratitude to all participants and stakeholders, reiterating the Ministry's dedication to building a society free from violence and stigma.  Facilitators at the event, included Mrs. Silifat Giwa, Director of the Wellness Centre, Alausa, who delivered insightful talks on re...

 FIRST LADY OF NIGERIA LAUNCHES SECOND EDITION OF ELDERLY SUPPORT SCHEME IN LAGOS  ... Increases Cash Support From N100,000 To N200,000 ... Disburses N50m To 250 Lagos Elders  As the second edition of the annual Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, took place in Lagos on Tuesday, 250 beneficiaries from Lagos have received a support of ₦200,000 each from the initiative.  Addressing participants at the event held at the premises of the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasised the importance of ensuring a "Total Wellness: Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Lifestyle" for elderly Nigerians. Senator Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria and Chairman of RHI, represented at the event by the First Lady of Lagos State and State Coordinator of RHI, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, explained that the concept of Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Su...

 A woman has confessed to poisoning her husband after he demanded a DNA test for their 2-year-old child.  She claimed she was afraid that if the test revealed the child wasn't his, he would kick her out, and she would lose her luxurious lifestyle and potentially be sent back home.  In a desperate attempt to maintain her current life, she made the drastic decision to end her husband's life. More details later

 Two Nigerian nationals, Chima Ihekwoaba (44) and Uchechukwu Mbaogu (26), were recently arrested by the Hawks and local police for drug dealing in Park Rynie near Scottburgh. The operation, which followed several undercover investigations, resulted in the seizure of approximately R8,700 worth of drugs, including rock cocaine, CAT, and crystal meth. Authorities also confiscated around R38,450 in cash, believed to be proceeds of crime. Both suspects have appeared in court and were remanded in custody, with their case postponed to December 30, 2024. More photos below. 

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has cancelled his birthday celebration in honour of the children who lost their lives in a stampede during a children funfair in Ibadan, the state capital. The governor disclosed this on Friday in Ibadan while receiving the South-East delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by its Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara. He described the incident, which claimed the lives of 35 children, as painful, unfortunate, and preventable and added that he would cancel his December 25th birthday celebrations and spend the day alone indoors. “It is a day that is really sobering for me personally. Not only did I cancel the event in Ebonyi, I told everyone that I would stay indoors on my birthday. There is no party; I have sent the message out,” Makinde said. “It has been a difficult year, really. Early in the year, we had the Bodija explosion. We managed through quite a bit. But we are strengthened by the show of support for us, to let us know th...

  The Chief Press Secretary to Edo State governor, Fred Itua has said the state governor, Monday Okpehbolo’s request to the House of Assembly to suspend the chairmen was done within his constitutional powers. In a statement on Friday, Itua said the request was part of Okpehbolo’s oversight function as the governor. He said, “The suspension of local government chairmen in Edo State has sparked an intense debate. However, a closer examination of the Constitution and the Federal Attorney General’s comments, reveal that the decisions by the Edo State House of Assembly, vis-a-vis, the Governor of the State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, are entirely justified. “From a legal perspective, the Governor’s request to the House of Assembly to suspend the chairmen was done within his constitutional powers. “The House of Assembly had the right to turn down the request but opted to act on it. It is therefore unfair to blame the Governor. If the Governor had the power to suspend the council chairmen ...

  The Abia State Government will begin implementing compulsory free education for primary schools and Junior Secondary Schools 1–3 in 2025, as approved by Governor Alex Otti. The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, disclosed this in Umuahia on Friday when his ministry received Abia State students who performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded 27th National Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists, JETS, competition held in Abuja. He explained that free education is part of Governor Alex Otti’s efforts to transform the education sector in the state. Ubochi highlighted that the JETS competition provided a platform for students to showcase their ingenuity and creativity, challenging young minds to find innovative solutions to complex problems while enhancing their academic potential. In their remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, and the Executive Board Chairman of ASUBEB, Mrs Lydia Onuoha, attributed...

 PRESS RELEASE Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down. We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC. Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing. Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians. Olufemi Soneye Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Ltd. Abuja 21st December, 2024

 A warrant for contempt of court has been issued for the recent former Marion County Coroner.  Troy Cannon has been held in contempt of court after failing to show up to a civil court case on multiple occasions. He has missed half of all of the required appearances before the judge and the other party in the civil case. The warrant carries a $500.00 bond without a 10% provision. The warrant was handed down firmly by Judge Kelly. Yesterday, Judge Kelly stated that he will put out a body attachment warrant each time Troy Cannon does not appear before him in court. This is the sixth time the former coroner has been on the news. Most recently, he was in the news for forging a funeral director's name on an official document. The other four times were while he was the acting coroner and they were for a wide variety of instances. Cannon has made the news for misappropriating Marion County funds as well as St. Louis news stations sharing incendiary comments he made about people that h...

 A Texas jail guard was fatally beaten by an inmate while walking him to his cell. 28-year-old Isaiah Bias sadly lost his life on December 16th at the Ellis County Detention Center in Texas. The shocking incident occurred while Bias was attempting to escort 45-year-old, Arron Thompson, to his cell. According to reports, Thompson punched Bias causing him to fall to the ground.  Thompson then began viciously attacking him while he was on the ground with a combination of knees, punches and kicks. He also choked Bias before leaving him laying there, lifeless.  Elias County Sheriff Brad Norman called the attack pure evil. He went on to say that Bias had just become an uncle the week before and that he had known Isaiah Bias since he was 14-years-old when he participated in the Explorer Career Exploration program. Thompson had been booked into jail in November for 3 counts of assault on a public servant and evading arrest. He had been in solitary confinement and was being transp...

 We may never learn "How to get to Sesame Street" after HBO pulls the rug on our beloved childhood show, after a 55 season run. The magical show that was part of so many of our own childhoods as well as our children's childhoods, is officially going off the air after 55 seasons. PBS had to scrap the show due to declining revenue and viewership in this new age of streaming, but at that time HBO gave the show a lifeline signing a 5 year deal with creators.  But even HBO couldn't keep the show on its legs with this new generation of kids who are being raised on streaming platforms and short form videos. They have announced that the 2025 season will be the show's last. They do plan on running reruns through 2027, but after that Sesame Street will be lost to the annals of history like so many other classic shows that have been lost in the new age of media. The whole Sesame Street gang will be missed. Thank you for always being there for us '70s, '80s and '9...

 A puzzling mystery is uncovered when an infant is discovered missing after a car crash that took the life of his father and sister. The crash left his mom in critical condition. Where is this baby boy?!  This very troubling mystery was uncovered on December 9th, when troopers in Alabama responded to an accident in Fayette County. According to reports, Steven Collins (the infant's father) was "driving aggressively at a high rate of speed" (92 mph) when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree.  Neither parent was wearing a seatbelt and their daughter was not in a car seat at the time. Steven Collins was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced deceased at the scene and the young daughter (RyLeigh Collins) also suffered fatal injuries. RyLeigh was just 2 years old. The infant's mother, Wendy Bailey, was airlifted out with life threatening injuries. It was after the dust settled on the tragic wreck that the true mystery began. The couple also had a 1-ye...

 Liberia war crimes trials to take place under Boakai - Official Liberia's war crimes trials will take place during the administration of President Joseph Boakai, the lawyer responsible for setting up the country's long-awaited war crimes court says, AFP reported. Justice has so far proved elusive for the victims of the back-to-back brutal civil wars that raged in the West African country between 1989 and 2003. The conflicts left around 250,000 people dead. Despite years of international and domestic pressure, Liberia has yet to try anyone for crimes committed during the years of violence which resulted in massacres, mutilation, rape and cannibalism. "I do not think it is too late," Jallah Barbu, who in November was appointed by President Joseph Boakai to manage the establishment of a War and Economic Crimes Court, told AFP news agency. "We have a wonderful opportunity now to address our situation in the world and move forward," he added. Key suspect dead ...